Many people never change, they only mature or they stay the way they are for their entire life. In Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible, a plethora of people with different backgrounds and different morals all reside in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Unfortunately, life isn’t picturesque for these people. Many of the characters hold grudges against each other; The town is dealing with unseen dramas that we don’t even see take place. As a result, petty arguments over land and love turn to serious accusations of witchcraft and betrayal. Abigail Williams, the main and first accuser began her spree of pointing fingers after being rejected by the married man she once had an affair with, John Proctor. Prior to the play’s beginning,
…show more content…
When he made his choice, it became apparent that John Proctor, of all of the characters introduced in The Crucible, had truly changed the most.
Proctor’s most pivotal change came upon when he unwillingly became involved with the trials and the witch hunts. In the beginning of the play, it shows in Proctor’s character that he isn’t one for direct and consequential confrontations. By way of example, he openly expresses his opinion on the town reverend, Mr. Parris, to anyone who inquires, but never acted towards him. Then, when Parris directly confronts him over why Proctor has ceased attending Sunday mass, Proctor explains by saying, “I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more” (Miller 30). To elaborate, Proctor is clearly at a controversy with Parris, but the extent as to which Proctor has gone about dealing with the dispute is minimal. He merely avoids going to church and thereby simply avoids his problems with the reverend. This …show more content…
Even this, however, changes from a pride in himself regardless of his mistakes, into pride in the act of doing the right thing. In the introduction of the conflict of his and Abigail’s affair, he at first denied the whole act to Abigail herself, and then later he denied it had any significance while he was arguing with his wife, Elizabeth. He firstly demanded: “Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller 24). Clearly, he was eager for her to forget it ever happened. However, he still retained a fondness for her as he used a gentle nickname, “Abby”. Now that the issue of witchcraft had come afloat in the town, Proctor had larger priorities than meddling with Abigail and her infatuations. Moreover, he up front denied that he and Abigail had ever “touched”. Indicating that he was eager to forget and move past the whole shebang. Since he was eager to move past this, it’s certain that Proctor no longer felt a strong connection to Abigail, nor did he lust after her anymore. Instead, Proctor put his energy into working towards repairing his marriage. Conversely, he became easily provoked when speaking to Elizabeth, and declared, “You forget nothin; and forgive nothin’. Learn charity woman” (Miller 57). Proctor wouldn’t submit his sense of pride to his crime. At this point in the play, he was very careful with what he said, and tried very hard to appeal to her. This would
When he made his choice, it became apparent that John Proctor, of all of the characters introduced in The Crucible, had truly changed the most.
Proctor’s most pivotal change came upon when he unwillingly became involved with the trials and the witch hunts. In the beginning of the play, it shows in Proctor’s character that he isn’t one for direct and consequential confrontations. By way of example, he openly expresses his opinion on the town reverend, Mr. Parris, to anyone who inquires, but never acted towards him. Then, when Parris directly confronts him over why Proctor has ceased attending Sunday mass, Proctor explains by saying, “I have trouble enough without I come five mile to hear him preach only hellfire and bloody damnation. Take it to heart, Mr. Parris. There are many others who stay away from church these days because you hardly ever mention God any more” (Miller 30). To elaborate, Proctor is clearly at a controversy with Parris, but the extent as to which Proctor has gone about dealing with the dispute is minimal. He merely avoids going to church and thereby simply avoids his problems with the reverend. This …show more content…
Even this, however, changes from a pride in himself regardless of his mistakes, into pride in the act of doing the right thing. In the introduction of the conflict of his and Abigail’s affair, he at first denied the whole act to Abigail herself, and then later he denied it had any significance while he was arguing with his wife, Elizabeth. He firstly demanded: “Wipe it out of mind. We never touched, Abby” (Miller 24). Clearly, he was eager for her to forget it ever happened. However, he still retained a fondness for her as he used a gentle nickname, “Abby”. Now that the issue of witchcraft had come afloat in the town, Proctor had larger priorities than meddling with Abigail and her infatuations. Moreover, he up front denied that he and Abigail had ever “touched”. Indicating that he was eager to forget and move past the whole shebang. Since he was eager to move past this, it’s certain that Proctor no longer felt a strong connection to Abigail, nor did he lust after her anymore. Instead, Proctor put his energy into working towards repairing his marriage. Conversely, he became easily provoked when speaking to Elizabeth, and declared, “You forget nothin; and forgive nothin’. Learn charity woman” (Miller 57). Proctor wouldn’t submit his sense of pride to his crime. At this point in the play, he was very careful with what he said, and tried very hard to appeal to her. This would